As the fog crept in with velvety paws and settled for an
evening nap over San Francisco, an unlikely pair of brother
and sister white cats with orange tipped ears watched a
strangely attired human enter the murky waters of Mountain
Lake. In its depths laid numerous golf balls from the
nearby golf course and a twelve-foot long albino
alligator? Did that man really know what he was doing?
As the feline siblings, Isabella and her much more food-
loving brother Rupert, kept watch over these strange
proceedings, their person waited dubiously on the shore.
Then, with a little "Mrao" from Isabelle, she knew what to
do.
Not normally out so late in the night, Isabella and Rupert
live in a small, yet, comfy apartment above the Green
Vase, a seldom open curio and antique shop in San
Francisco's historic Jackson Square that their person had
inherited after her supposedly deceased uncle has willed it
to her. Their owner has little need to sell things from
the shop now that she has discovered that her Uncle Oscar
has left her certain possessions (not always known to her)
that will send her on a treasure quest with mysterious
clues to solve. As his niece grapples with clues and events
both large and small, her uncle has other chicken to fry
(so to speak) that involve the political realm and
especially over an upcoming election for interim mayor.
High stakes are riding on who will be elected. Will
certain shenanigans interfere with that process?
Rebecca Hale's HOW TO TAIL A CAT is the fourth book in her
Cats and Curios Mystery series. It is definitely a
different type of cozy mystery; full of human suspense and
deception, yet is most often written from the perspective
and interests of a cat's eye view with a nameless owner
whose main benefit to them seems to be to get their fried
chicken snacks. Isabelle is the more intelligent and
strategic cat and gently nudges things along to help
Oscar's niece find the important connection in her quest to
the Steinhart Aquarium.
HOW TO TALE A CAT is full of quirky, yet credibly described
characters, such as the Previous Mayor, Spider, Horton Fin,
the Millionaire Tramp and Sam Eckles, a frog specialist. As
this book was my first introduction to the series, it is
quite readable as a stand-alone story; however, I am sure
potential readers would really benefit from reading the
previous books in the series. I look forward to enjoying
the pleasure of reading those stories about these very
talented cat sleuths. As the story develops, you are lead
on an intriguing, but at times, confusing journey under and
on the streets of San Francisco, but doubly fun for those
familiar with this beautiful city. There is a cliff-hanger
ending which I am sure will be revealed in the next book in
the series. This is a PURR-fect treat for feline and
mystery fans alike! Warning: Like cat treats, this series
may prove to
be addictive!
Okay, granted, an albino alligator on the loose in San
Francisco is pretty darn exciting. But my two cats, Rupert
and Isabella, and I have better things to do than tail a
reptile from Nob Hill to Fisherman’s Wharf. We’re
investigating the mysterious Steinhart brothers, the
1900s-era benefactors who provided the original funding for
Clive the alligator’s aquarium. Follow the money, as my
uncle Oscar used to say…
In the media circus surrounding Clive, one clown gets a
little too close to the renegade gator—our very own aspiring
mayor, Montgomery Carmichael. We’d hate to see Monty meet an
undignified end, but we’re on a hunt of our own—for Uncle
Oscar’s latest treasure. Of course, that’s assuming the
whole thing isn’t a crock…